Suspect seized for teen cyber harassment

Luxembourg police have issued a warning to social media users, as they are currently investigating a suspect who harassed girls through social networking sites such as Facebook and Snapchat.

23.07.2014

(HRW) Luxembourg police have issued a warning to social media users, as they are currently investigating a suspect who harassed girls through social networking sites such as Facebook and Snapchat.

The man in question was brought to the police's attention by the FBI who identified the suspect after finding him flirting with girls through dummy accounts, striking up an acquaintance and slowly inviting them to share photos of a sexual nature on such sites as Snapchat.

Once an initial picture was sent he then threatened his victims with making it public online unless they send further compromising photos. The man also sent sexual pictures of himself to his victims.

A search has been carried out at the suspect's Luxembourg home, during which computers and mobile phones were seized. One hundred files containing pictures of a sexual nature of underage girls were found on the devices.

The investigation is still ongoing and the suspect has meanwhile appeared in court.

He could be charged with grooming and cyber harassment, as well as possession of child pornography, public indecent behaviour and breach of youth protection laws.

At the same time police are warning young people to use social media wisely and to never share sensitive material or pictures of a sexual nature.